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Pop Forecast for Feb 29: Zootopia, House of Cards and more

Violent Femmes, Wintersleep also release new music

Ginnifer Goodwin is the voice of Judy Hopps in Zootopia. Photo: Disney

Postmedia News

Published: February 29, 2016 - 10:38 AM

Chris Lackner

“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.

MOVIES

Big releases on March 4: London Has Fallen; Zootopia.

Big picture: Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is the new John McClane. First, he was in the right place at the wrong time in Olympus Has Fallen — saving the U.S. president from a North Korean attack. Fortunately, Mike has the whole “die hard” thing down pat. In this sequel, he protects the prez (Aaron Eckhart) in London amid an elaborate terrorist assassination plot. We’re told “an attack has decimated the British capital” — so I assume the bad guys simply levelled every neighbourhood pub while people slept. (Good luck functioning without your warm morning beer, London!) Turns out, a criminal mastermind named Barkawi wants the American leader’s head on a platter, and he’s holding an entire city hostage to get it. Morgan Freeman returns as the vice-president with lines like “America will rise up. We will find you and we will destroy you.” (I’m pretty sure the screenwriter doubles as Donald Trump’s speech writer.)

‘It’s an urban version of Hundred Acre Wood, only everyone is more ironic than earnest.’

Meanwhile, anthropomorphism is taken to the extreme in Zootopia, an animated family flick about an all-animal city — a multi-species melting pot full of clothed, talking mammals from every habitat. You’ll find everything from wolf security guards and polar bear gangsters to sloth bureaucrats (an inspired choice). The story centres on a con man fox that reluctantly teams up with the city’s first bunny cop. It’s an urban version of Hundred Acre Wood, only everyone is more ironic than earnest — and Eeyore could probably single-handedly prop up an entire pharmaceutical industry. Notably, CBC’s Peter Mansbridge makes an appearance as furry anchor Peter Moosebridge.

Forecast: Banning will save London, and then set his sights on playing hero in Ottawa for No. 3 — saving the president from being bored to death by question period. Meanwhile, Mansbridge may have discovered career No. 2. I predict he’ll play a stuffed beaver in Toy Story 4, or a Canuck supervillain in Despicable Me 3.

Big events: House of Cards (March 4, Netflix); The Family (March 3, ABC; March 2, CTV).

Big picture: Politics are ugly as sin. For those worried about the damage a Shakespearean-esque villain could inflict on the White House, look no further than TV’s diabolical President Frank Underwood. House of Cards Season 4 will find him locked in a battle — potentially to the death — with his own Lady Macbeth, First Lady Claire (Robin Wright). Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) and Neve Campbell join the stellar cast.

Meanwhile, the stage is set for The Family, a new political thriller. It follows another ruthlessly ambitious politician, California mayor Claire Warren (Joan Allen). A woman with both eyes on the governor mansion, her political future is altered by the return of Adam, her long-ago kidnapped son. Vancouver’s Liam James (The Way, Way Back) plays the mysterious teenager — who may be hiding game-changing tricks up his sleeve. The Family is Bloodlines meets Scandal — an addictive, soapy cocktail full of guilt, power, adultery and murder. (FYI: After its debut, the series moves to Sundays).

Forecast: The name Claire is becoming so sullied by TV villains that it will be removed from baby-name books for a decade.

Honourable mention: The Voice (Feb. 29, NBC/CTV Two). In November, a divided America will likely have to vote for an over-the-top reality TV caricature, or choose to elect the first female president. So isn’t Voice mentor Christina Aguilera the third-party unity candidate America has been looking for? She can even perform at her own inauguration!

Halifax-born indie rock band Wintersleep [Dustin Rabin]

MUSIC

Big releases on March 4: Violent Femmes (We Can Do Anything); Wintersleep (The Great Detachment).

Big picture: Violent Femmes prove you don’t have to teach an old dog new tricks — as long as the old tricks are still in top form. Sixteen years after their last studio album, singles like I Don’t Remember could fit in seamlessly on their greatest hits album. The shambling guitars, Gordon Gano’s growling vocals, punchy drum beats — and even punchier lyrics — will transport fans like a time machine.

Meanwhile, Canadian roots-rockers Wintersleep have the makings of a classic on their hands. New singles like Amerika feel like Nebraska-era Springsteen combined with today’s alt-country rock aesthetic. The emotive, orchestral band has the unique ability to give you goosebumps while rocking out. Most of the album was recorded live off the floor, giving it a raw, organic, romantic feel.

Forecast: The Violent Femmes truly can do anything. Meanwhile, Wintersleep’s musical form of Detachment is affixing; if only their music could put our snowy season to bed for good.

Honourable mentions: Thao & The Get Down (Stay Down, A Man Alive); The Zolas (Swooner). Thao Nguyen’s new age folk rock is so good it almost makes you forget Greenwich Village even existed; Vancouver’s The Zolas will cause an epidemic of dance-floor swooning.